A group of independent and Democratic lawmakers had asked Secretary of State Matt Dunlap to invoke a never-before-used constitutional provision they said would let Dunlap start the process of temporarily removing LePage for being unfit to serve.

Dunlap on Thursday called LePage’s conduct “reprehensible.” But he says Maine’s constitution doesn’t detail how the provision would work and says he lacks “manifest evidence” LePage is unable to serve.

Critics want to punish LePage for an obscenity-laden voicemail and threats directed at a legislator.